Coal Ridge’s Morgan wins 3A WSL volleyball’s Player of the Year

Coal Ridge senior outside hitter Kara Morgan leaps for a hit attempt at the net during a home game against the Olathe Pirates earlier in the season. Morgan was named the 3A Western Slope League Player of the Year.Theresa Hamilton / Garfield Re-2

Following a dominant senior season after returning from a knee injury that wiped her junior season out, Coal Ridge senior Kara Morgan ran away with the 3A Western Slope League’s Player of the Year award, as voted on by league coaches.

Morgan was the top hitter for the Titans during the 2018 season under head coach Aimee Gerber, leading the Titans with 303 kills and 47 aces, adding a team-high 298 digs and 33 total blocks for Coal Ridge, which finished 16-9 (9-0 3A WSL), winning the league championship for the second straight year and the third time in four seasons, reaching the 3A regional playoffs where the Titans fell to Platte Valley in the championship game.

The standout senior led the league in kills with 76 more than the next closest hitter, had the second highest hitting percentage in the league behind sophomore teammate Taylor Wiescamp, and was second in the league in digs.

Along with Morgan, Wiescamp earned First Team All-Conference honors for the Titans after posting 203 kills, a .406 hitting percentage and 114 blocks. Senior setter Kenzie Crawford also earned First Team All-Conference honors for the Titans after finishing her senior season with a league-high 634 assists, adding 86 kills, a team-high 75 aces, 41 blocks and 159 digs.

Aside from the trio of Titans on the first team, Coal Ridge saw three others earn All-Conference Honorable Mention accolades.

The Cedaredge Bruins tied the Coal Ridge Titans for the most players on the First Team with three, as well as three players earning honorable mention accolades. Cedaredge coach Heather Dunbar earned the 3A WSL Coach of the Year award after the Bruins went 20-5 (8-1 3A WSL) finishing second in the league, while reaching the regional championship game where they lost to Resurrection Christian.